The Amazing Power of Scent

 

I recently tried a new hair product that promised to “tame those pesky fly-aways,” and since it was reasonably priced, I thought it was worth a try. It didn’t tame much of anything, but gosh, it smelled delightful. I said to my BFF, “Smell my hair. Isn’t that great?” She sniffed and said, “It’s OK, I guess. So where do you want to go for lunch?

Oh. And then I remembered: scent isn’t the same for everyone. What smells wonderful to one person can smell just sort of all right to another, and vice versa. What smells awful to one may just be “not so bad” to another.

The hair product makes me smile every time I catch a whiff of it. That, frankly, is what is important about scent. Our emotional response to it is the basis of aromatherapy. Scents are known to directly access the brain, which in turn releases various hormones that can help support our well-being and alleviate stress. Our reaction to scent is ingrained, automatic, yet often specific to each individual. Sure, some smells are repugnant to all of us, but the degree to which we are offended or bothered by them is different for different people.

We can use our individual reaction to scent deliberately, to evoke a desired emotional response. The easiest way to find out what might work for you is to go to an aromatherapy store (no, you can’t do this on Amazon), take a deep breath as you sniff a particular scent, and see if it brings a smile to your face. If so, great, you’ve found a scent that awakens pleasing sensations for you. If not, simply move on to a different aroma. The deep breath matters, as the scent needs to get carried into your brain, so to speak, and breath facilitates that.

Then what? What do you do with that little bottle of lavender, let’s say, tucked in your pocket?

For example, you’re having a rough day at work. Your boss is being a jerk, your colleagues are worse, and you feel trapped in a job you dislike more each day. Will taking a whiff of lavender fix your work issues? Make your boss or colleagues treat you better? Your work easier? Nope. However, taking a few deep breaths of a scent that pleases you can relax your nervous system, calm your mind, and soothe you just enough for you to consider an alternative solution to whatever is bothering you. If you allow it to. That is the bottom line. You have to allow a scent to work for you, otherwise, well, it’s useless.

Sometimes, just a moment of scent-based soothing truly is enough. Try it! There’s much to gain, and nothing to lose.